Article shaking mechanism



Aug. 15, 1944.

E. A. WILCKENS ARTICLE SHAKING MECHANISM O l l a W v A [13 v l A l I I x I Innen-Zwar:

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B3 wwwrneys" Aug. 15, 1944. E. A. wlLcKE'Ns 2,356,021

I' ARTICLE SHAKING MECHANISM Original Filed June 8, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v,26.06U A Patented Aug. l5, 1944 t ARTICLE. SHAKING MECHANISM Eibe A. Wilckens, Baltimore, Md., assignor to Crown Cork & Seal Company, Inc., Baltimore, Md., a corporation of New York ,Original application June 8,A 1938, Serial No. 212,573. Divided and this application May 8, 1942, Serial No. 442,279

2 claims. (ci. 259-75) The present invention relates to an article shakingmechanism, the application being a division of my application for Article handling apparatus, filed June 8, 1938, Serial No. 212,573, which matured inte Pat-ent 2,304,982, ydated December 15, 1942.

In the packing of a number of types of small, light articles in` shipping receptacles, it is `desir-- able that the articles be rmly'settled in the receptacles so that the latter need be no larger than necessary. In addition, adequate settling of the articles insures that they will not be free to move about during shipment and lthereby become scratched. This latter is extremely important in the handling -of articles such 'as container caps or closuresv which have a lithographed decoration thereon andinay have a serrated edge which will scar adjacent caps.

' An importantobjectof the invention is the provision of an apparatus which will settle articles in packing receptacles. f

a Another object of the invention is the provision of a shaking apparatus of such design that packing receptacles of different sizes will loe-securely supported thereon vfor shaking movement.

The shipping receptacles in which articles such as Vclosures are packed vary in size and shape, usually in accordancewith their capacity. It is, therefore, desirableV to provide a shaking apparatus which will hold various types of receptacles `against movement relativeto'fthe shakingv appa- ,ratus i Y A further object Vis the provision of a shaking means actuating structure of optimum simplicity.

In accordance with th'e vaboveobject', vthe shaking platform is`so connected toV a controlling member or valve that its'mo'vementsv will determinev the position ofthe controlling member; As a' result, the platform serves as a timing device for the actuating structure. l' Y l l Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specification and drawings. f

VIn the drawings: .a Figure 1'v shows the s t vpresent'invention in plan," the view showing the apparatus in association with the cap counting apparatus ofsaidoriginal application;

Figure 2 shows an electrical'circuit for-controlling the sl'iakng'apparatus;`

Figure 3 is aside elevation of the shaking mechanism, showingv one platformin `,vertical `section;

Figure 4 is a central'vertical `sectional view of the actuating cylinder 'included ther shaking mechanism; A f e` f airing apparatus' ef the l zio Figure '5 is a detail view of the device illustrated in Figure 4, the view being on the line 5--5 of vFigure 4; and Figure '6 is a vertical sectional view through a selector valve used with the shaking mechanism.

Figure 1 shows the shaking mechanism of the present invention as used with the cap counting apparatus of said original application. When the shaking mechanism is thus used, two shaking platforms 46 and 46' `are provided so that caps `or other articles may be delivered to a packing receptacle supported on one of the platforms, for example, platform 46, while an already filled receptacle is being removed from the other platform v46' and an empty receptacle placed thereon. Such an arrangement must include means to vcause the 'caps to be delivered to a spout above the platform 46 which supports the receptacle to Vbe filled, las well as means to shake only the platform 46.

Figure 2 diagrammatically shows the electrical circuit included in the apparatus of said original application to obtain the above controls.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the numeral 28 designates a hopper device which positions caps on edge for movement through a counting mechanism 38. The counting mechanism 38 includes cams |20 and |4lly rotated by movement of the caps through the counting mechanism as described in said original application. The circuit of Figure 2 includesa lead |52'extending from a Vsource of current to one side'of a solenoid ISI.

`The caml20 actuates contacts|25 and |26 which,

when moved to engaged position, will complete aV Y either? through the spout V44 above shaking platform 46 or through the spout 45 above the other shaking platform '46. l f

` A- lead 2|5"eXtends' from lead |52 to one side of each of two solenoid valves 2|4 and 2|5 respectivelyr associated with platforms 46 and 46. A pawland ratchet mechanism, also operated by Asolenoid-15|, win net-ate a Contact device 4o te place thebproper` solenoid valve 2|4 or 2I5 Hin the: return side vof this circuit. For example, when the contactor |48 is in the position illustrated in Figure 2, only the valve 2I5 will be in position foroperatio'n, since current will flow to this valve through leads |52 and 2|5and Vthen 'the metal-leere.v i.

cording to the number of caps passing throughI the counting mechanism, valve 2|.5 will be actu-fl A ated to cause the shaking mechanism 4B asso-V ciated therewith to be actuated.' "As -des'cribed :communication with the inlet pipe 228. AdJain said original application, the position of con?" tactor 40 will not change until the desiredl'number of caps -have been placed Y platform 46 under cbntrolgof counter 3,8.-A

above covered by an insulating sleeve |48 in. cluding a continuous cut-out in thepatli" of 'contact- 208. so'that this will always be inI engagement withfthe metal sleeve.. Shorter cutouts 205 and 208 are arranged opposite thecontactsf208a and-.'208l1a .ndv these cut-outs are so `arrangedwith respect to each other-that the contacts -208a and 208D will'alternately bear on ByV4 the above construction ofcontacto-r 40, as rwell as by theremainder ofthe circuit'disclos'ed, vwhen the solenoid has placed the guide device in'positionte-delivercalps through the chute 45, the valve 2|5 which controlsV the platfonm 46' beneath that;v chute will be the only platform which will Ybe shaken, by the action ofthe contacts |3|;andr|4|.- Qn theother hand.v when solenoid |5|hasmoved theguide device to direct -caps'throughthespout 44, contacter 40 will be actuated .to placethe-valve 2|4 associated with platform 46 inthe circuit with blades I3 and 4| 4 Ihe solenoid valves 2 I 4 and 2 5 areof identical construction, each solenoidl generally comprising, as illustratedin Figure 6, a coil 220 and an armature 22|", thearmature'being'provided at its lower -end -with'a needle valve 223 adapted to seat inthe upper end 'of a valve passage 224 opening to an outlet lport* 225. The upper endof passage '224epe'ns'tof a' chamber 225 having aninlet port 221 iin" communication therewith. When coil -22|0 isdeen'ergized, the needle valve 223 will seat in the port 224by -its own weight, thereby Vcutting off'cmmunication between the inlet port .221, which communicates through a line 228 with asourceof `compressed air, and the outlet port 225, which, in the case ofsolenoid 2|4, communihas its lower portion extending down through a f packedbore in the lower -wall of lthe piston chamber to b'e-pivotally connected as indicated at 235'tc one end of the .correspondingshaking platforni. The upper portion of the piston rod 234 extends through a packed bore in the upper end wall iof'piston chamber 230, the guided mounting of "pistonV 'red 234 in both the upper and lower end'wall's of the pistoni chamber insuring that the piston rod will move-rectilinearly with respect to .thechamb'en inthe receptacle on l is provided adjacent its lower end. The upper The contacter 40 has the metal core described The reciprocation of piston 41 within the piston chamber 230 to effect oscillation of the correspending platform is effected by actuation of a slide valve 231 moving in a valve chamber 238 which extends longitudinally of the cylinder 48 and communicates with the upper end of the pistrichamber'throughr'a port 239." andwith the lower end of the'piston chamber through a port 240. The air inlet line 228a communicates with y'valve chamber 238 intermediate the ends 0f the latter.

' Valve 231"h`as a groove 24| extending longitudinally "of" the same, which groove is always in cent its 'upper end, valve 231 is reduced to form a-transverse groove .242 and a similar groove 243 end .ofval've 231 is cut away .as indicated at 244, thisv cut-away portion 244 being constantly open tothe atmosphere and being intermittently positioned opposite the upper piston chamberport .239. vJust-belowqthe lower. valve groove 243 another groove 245.jisfprovided in thevalve 231, this groovegbeing long-,enough to extend out of the valve chamber 238 and thereby adapted to intermittently place the piston chamber port 240 inl communication with the atmosphere. Valve 231 includes at its -lower end an extension or rod 231a which projects entirely out `of the valve chamberand carries a friction device 246 .which moves between plates241 depending from the cylinder structure. i Y v The"frictiondevice 246 comprises two friction shoes 248 held-in a bracket 249 fixed to the sides ,of valve rod 231a ley-Welding asshown vat- 249a inFigure 5. A spring v250 extends throughaper- .tures 25| in the Abrackets and fvalve rod ,to force the friction shoes apart and to maintain-them in close contact-with theplates 2,41... yThis arrangement insures that the-valve will remain in the vertical position to which.v it is :moved by the receptacle or containersupporting platform 46, `as hereafter described, Iandagainst both the action of gravity and- .the pressure of the fluid moving through the valve. ,Y v-

The lower end of bracket 249 includes lateral anges252 and thefextremelower end of valve rod-23M is provided with laterally .extending flanges 253 positioned in the path of movement of arms254 on .the nearend of the corresponding'shakingplatform l46Y v The operation of either cylinder 48 or 48a is as follows: Y.

When the valveor controlling element. 231 is in the lowered positionA showninlFigure 4, compressed air will enter throughyline 228e and flow downwardly through grooves 24| and 243 to enter the piston chamber port 240, `thereby forcing the piston `or'driving memberf41 upwardly to swing the near end of the corresponding shaking platform upwardly. During such4 movement of the piston, theupper pistonl chamber port V239 is in communication with the atmosphere -thl'oughi valve port 244, the upper transverse-groove `242 of valve 231 beingbelow "and out ofcommunication .with upper .piston -port.239; yfWhen'the near end ofthe .platformp-,48swings upwardly, the'y upper surface of thefarms 254 willstrike against the lowerl surfaces ofthe flanges-252 on-bracket249, thereby moving the valve .rod and valve upwardly so that A the Vupper transverse groei/c1242 of the valve willlbe opposite theupper piston vchamber yport 239 while the lgroove; 245 of Ivalve 231 will moveoppoaitethe lowerapiston `chamber yport 24U to place the latter in communicaticnewith" the atmosphere. As a result, compressed air will enter the upper portion of the piston chamber to drive the piston downwardly and when the arms 254 of platform 46 strike the flanges 253 at the lower end of the valve rod, the valve will be returned to the position of Figure 4.

The pivotal mounting of the cylinders 48 and 48a on their bearings 232 will permit the pistons to swing somewhat with the movement of the platform. The air inlet connections 228a and 226b are either flexible hose or include a joint adjacent the cylinders 48 and 48a, to permit swinging of the cylinders.

The platforms 46 and 45 are of identical construction, each platform being pivotally supported by pins 266a extending into bearings 260 and the platforms being positioned alongside each other as shown in Figure 1 so that one platform will be beneath the spout '44 and the other` beneath the spout 45. rI'he pivot pins 26M are xed to their platforms in such position that each platform is slightly off-balance, thereby insuring that at the conclusion of any shaking movement of a platform, the latter will always move to an inclined position and hence its valve 231 will be in either extreme upward or downward position. This arrangement will, of course, prevent a valve 231 from stopping in such position as to close both of the ports 239 and 246.

In order that packing receptacles of various sizes will be securely centered and retained on the platforms during their oscillation or shaking, each platform includes a base plate 26| having bars 262 welded to its upper surface adjacent the side edges thereof and, at its inner end, a cross bar 263 of the same height as the bars 262. As indicated in Figures 3 and 4, plates 262a and 263a overlie the bars 262 and 263 to build up a substantially high edge or wall about the edges of the plate 26|. Within each corner of the framing edge thus formed is positioned a right angled bracket 264, brackets 264 being of less height than the framing edge.

As shown in the right-hand portion of Figure 1, the above arrangement enables various sizes of boxes to be securely held on the oscillatory platforms. For example, a box of relatively small capacity and of substantially square outline such as indicated at R may be positioned between the side elements 262 of the framing edge, with its front and rear corners in contact with the faces 264a of the right angled members 264. Also, a box of substantially similar capacity but of oblong outline may be positioned entirely within the right angled members 264, as indicated by the dot and dash lines R2. A box of somewhat larger outline indicated at R3 can be seated upon the right angled members with its side walls in contact with the inner surfaces of the side bars 262 and its inner end in contact with the end bar 263. In order to further hold a box of this size in position, blocks 266 each having a plate 266a welded thereto to make them of the same height as the plates 262a are provided at the forward ends of the side bars. A still larger receptacle, indicated at R4 can be seated on the upper surfaces of the framing walls. In order to hold such a box more secure, right angled elements 268 are provided on the upper surface of the framing wall at the rear corners thereof and strips 269 are provided along the side edges of the framing walls at the front ends thereof.

Rubber blocks 210 may be secured to the floor beneath the ends of the shaking platforms to absorb vibration.

It will be further understood that the invention is not limited to the details of construction shown in the drawings and that the phraseology employed in the specification is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

I claim:

1. A receptacle supporting and shaking platform for shaking apparatus comprising a plate element, means projecting upwardly from said plate element to bound areas in which receptacles may be seated and held against sidewise movement, said means including a plurality of angled members each comprising two legs extending at right angles to each other, said members being positioned at the corners of a rectangular area with their legs extending along two adjacent sides of such area so that receptacles may be seated within the area dened by the adjacent sides of said legs and also within the areas dened by the opposing ends of said legs.

2. A receptacle supporting and shaking platform for shaking apparatus comprising a plate element, means projecting upwardly from said plate element to bound areas in which receptacles may be seated and held against sidewise movement, said means including a plurality of angled members each comprising two legs extending at right angles to each other, said members being positioned at the corners of a rectangular area with their legs extending along two adjacent sides of such area so that receptacles may be seated within the area defined by the adjacent sides of said legs and also within the areas dened by the opposing ends of said legs, and means between said angled members and the edges of the plate element and projecting above said angled members to support a larger receptacle above said angled members.

EIBE A. WILCKENS. 

